Real Advice from Real College Girls

It's beginning to look a lot like...the end of the semester. Every post on Facebook is either someone complaining about how their 78 isn't getting bumped or an article summing up the semester in a slew of Jennifer Lawrence memes. I think it's valuable to look back on your semester, see if you met your goals, and see what you want to change for next semester.

I like reading the blog posts about what people have learned. What advice they can offer to others, younger and older, when it comes to surviving a semester full of exams, events, and sometimes lots of stress.

My reps are an awesome group of girls. Some of them I know from home and some have applied after we met each other here in the blog-o-sphere. They're college athletes, working girls, pre-med students, and even some high school girls that are working their tails off to apply to their dream schools. So I asked them what they learned this semester:

"This semester I learned that taking 4 online classes is not easy and it takes a lot of self-discipline. If it is possible, do NOT do this! I would suggest only taking one or two online....Also, going to bed before midnight really helps..."
-Katie, Stephen F. Austin University 

"1. Get ahead in your classes early on, it will help you when you hit a slump toward the end of the semester and bomb a test but your grade doesn't suffer because you've built it up all semester.
2. Don't be afraid to do things on your own. Go eat at the dining hall by yourself, it's really not that bad to be by yourself sometimes.
3. Try and get out of your comfort zone. ...I would rather stay in and watch rom-coms with friends than have a night out "frat-house hopping". But I have the opportunity to try new things...so even if I want to stay in and relax...it's good for me to try new things and go to a distinguished lecture series or go to Whataburger at 2 a.m...."
-Emma, University of Arkansas 

"I learned this semester to be bold, take risks, and to do what makes you happy because life is short and who cares what other people think. You deserve to be happy and live your life how you want to. Your true friends will understand, back you up, and stick with you through everything!"
Selena, University of Wisconsin  

"Having a job is great for having extra money, but remember to have time for fun as well! It can be draining, physically and mentally, to just go to school and work everyday. Take advantage of the days when you don't have to work and have a light school load for the day by hanging out with friends or just doing something outside if the weather is nice!"
Clarisa, University of Arkansas 

"Not everything is going to be your thing, and that's okay. I took a couple classes that I ended up not liking, and I got really frustrated. I couldn't fix my schedule, so I was stuck with those classes for the entire semester. I had some great friends in those classes, though, and we've managed to get through it together! I also learned that you don't have to do what everyone else is doing. I took a class that not a lot of people took, but I ended up loving it and met some of my best friends in that class."
Brooke, Blog: Live The Prep Life, Colleyville, TX

"I tend to fall into the same habits each year no matter how much I tell myself differently. But, one valuable lesson I learned this semester is stop buying takeout. Whether it be a pizza while you're studying, a coffee every morning, or Taco Bell for lunch - I've done it all. Compared to food that you can cook yourself, your take out doesn't have as much nutrition in it which can really affect your day-to-day life (think acne, poor sleeping habits, too much bad food)."
Rachel, Blog: Seashells + Sparkles, Westfield State University 


I hope you had a wonderful semester! So thankful for these girls and their wise words.

X,

Cristina